Corey Deuel and Irving Crane
- Thread starter Klopek
- Start date
NOT even close! Different styles, different games, VERY different personalities! 
but they both do have rectangular heads! 
Crane was taller and stood erect all the time, never slouched like you know who. He looked you in the eye when he spoke and spoke clearly in good english out of the middle of his mouth, not out of the side. Are you beginning to get the picture? He hustled no one and no one hustled Mr. Crane. Who would dare? He might accept and then you'd be dead meat! :wink:
In the 60's I doubt that there were three men who could beat him at any game. Maybe Ronnie and Taylor at One Pocket, Taylor at Banks and Lassiter at 9-Ball. Pretty short list there! Believe me as good as Luther played Straight Pool, he didn't want to play a long challenge match with Crane. It was bad action for him. Same for Balsis. Even Harold Worst gave the man the utmost respect.
In the 60's I doubt that there were three men who could beat him at any game. Maybe Ronnie and Taylor at One Pocket, Taylor at Banks and Lassiter at 9-Ball. Pretty short list there! Believe me as good as Luther played Straight Pool, he didn't want to play a long challenge match with Crane. It was bad action for him. Same for Balsis. Even Harold Worst gave the man the utmost respect.
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Are they related?.
It damn sure looks like they fell off the same tree doesnt it? :thumbup:
what jay said
i just watched the crane-balsis 7 part video from the 1966 world straight pool championships.that was an incredible run.
where does crane sit as far as his peers of the time and overall as a straight pool player?
i haven't seen them all but i really can't see how a better game of straight pool could be played.
i just watched the crane-balsis 7 part video from the 1966 world straight pool championships.that was an incredible run.
where does crane sit as far as his peers of the time and overall as a straight pool player?
i haven't seen them all but i really can't see how a better game of straight pool could be played.
Below Mosconi and Greenleaf, but on a par with any other player in the game's history, Sigel and Mizerak included.
It's hard to argue that Mosconi is not the greatest straight pool player of all time. However Crane had a much longer competitive career than did Mosconi, winning world titles (including 9-ball) in each of 6 decades. He also holds the high run of 309 on a 5 x 10 table, which I think is the most impressive high run by anyone on any equipment. This is a record which will never be broken. Crane was all business at the pool table, but otherwise a very classy gentleman.
Doc
Mosconi retired in the late 50's when he was not yet fifty years old. He had a heart condition which made playing in competition too stressful for him. He did come back to play in the Burbank tournament in 1966, where he finished second to Balsis (Cisero Murphy beat Willie in the key match), and threw a fit. He went after tourney promoter Arnie Satin at the trophy presentation.
Crane meanwhile played right through the 60's, continuing to win events. He remained a competitive player in the 70's, still capable of beating anyone.
Both of these men returned one more time to play in the Legends Of Pool in the 1980's. Lassiter won both times this event was held. He was a good ten years younger than either one of these guys at the time.
I remember hearing about that riff at the Burbank tournament, but I've forgotten the story. Arnie was a piece of work though. I knew him pretty well from Hollywood and Western, but I'd never trust him. I'm sure your path crossed his many times.
Doc
This isn't an opinion, it's an observation.
Perhaps if you had seen them both in person, you would realize that they don't look anything alike. I don't see any resemblance in their faces.
Mosconi and Satin was like fire and water. Their mutual hatred was obvious for all to see and they made no bones about it.